Billings teams up to offer service to Mexico

Local trucking company enters joint venture with Circle International

VIKKI BROUGHTON HODGESThe Dispatch

Published: Sunday, August 1, 1999 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, August 1, 1999 at 12:00 a.m.

Billings Freight Systems, a Lexington-based trucking firm that specializes in hauling textiles, has established a joint operating alliance with San-Francisco-based Circle International, a leading customs brokerage.

The new "Service Beyond the Border" program combines the regional less-than-truckload network of Billings, Circle's customs brokerage and international logistics management resources, and team driver operations to provide quick door-to-door service between the eastern and southern U.S. and Mexico.

"It's a joint venture to offer seamless service in and out of Mexico," said Mike Albert, president and chief executive officer of Billings. "Domestic transportation, international transportation, customs brokerage we've put them all together to simplify it for the customer."

Albert said Billings' textile customers have increasingly moved manufacturing operations abroad so the company is simply adapting to that change and following the market.

"A lot of manufacturing in the U.S. has moved offshore, especially to Mexico, since the implementation of NAFTA," Albert said.

Fabrics and components of garments, such as liners, zippers and buttons, will be trucked to Mexico for apparel assembly, Albert said, with the finished garments and certain fabrics that can be made more cheaply in Mexico shipped back into the U.S.

In addition, Albert noted, Circle already has a number of manufacturing customers in Mexico in the automotive, electronics and pharmaceutical industries that could also become Billings customers.

"We see it as a high-growth area for our company," he said. "Mexico has a large manufacturing base now but it's still in its infancy as far as its potential.

The two companies are matching complementary strengths to create superior service, he added.

"We wanted to partner with Circle because of its 100 years of experience as a customs broker and its proven expertise as an international logistics provider," Albert said. "Billings has a track record of over 75 years as a successful regional LTL carrier, which is perhaps the most demanding, competitive and service-sensitive sector of the trucking business."

Albert said Circle has a new large logistics center in Laredo, Texas, which will serve as the gateway for direct service to 22 major cities in Mexico. Billings drivers will make daily runs from Atlanta to Laredo.

Billings has 16 service centers between Miami and Boston, with more than 200 drivers and 550 employees in total, Albert said.

<p>Billings Freight Systems, a Lexington-based trucking firm that specializes in hauling textiles, has established a joint operating alliance with San-Francisco-based Circle International, a leading customs brokerage.</p><p>The new "Service Beyond the Border" program combines the regional less-than-truckload network of Billings, Circle's customs brokerage and international logistics management resources, and team driver operations to provide quick door-to-door service between the eastern and southern U.S. and Mexico.</p><p>"It's a joint venture to offer seamless service in and out of Mexico," said Mike Albert, president and chief executive officer of Billings. "Domestic transportation, international transportation, customs brokerage we've put them all together to simplify it for the customer."</p><p>Albert said Billings' textile customers have increasingly moved manufacturing operations abroad so the company is simply adapting to that change and following the market.</p><p>"A lot of manufacturing in the U.S. has moved offshore, especially to Mexico, since the implementation of NAFTA," Albert said.</p><p>Fabrics and components of garments, such as liners, zippers and buttons, will be trucked to Mexico for apparel assembly, Albert said, with the finished garments and certain fabrics that can be made more cheaply in Mexico shipped back into the U.S.</p><p>In addition, Albert noted, Circle already has a number of manufacturing customers in Mexico in the automotive, electronics and pharmaceutical industries that could also become Billings customers.</p><p>"We see it as a high-growth area for our company," he said. "Mexico has a large manufacturing base now but it's still in its infancy as far as its potential.</p><p>"So we're serving our existing customers, but also diversifying and opening new markets," Albert said.</p><p>The two companies are matching complementary strengths to create superior service, he added.</p><p>"We wanted to partner with Circle because of its 100 years of experience as a customs broker and its proven expertise as an international logistics provider," Albert said. "Billings has a track record of over 75 years as a successful regional LTL carrier, which is perhaps the most demanding, competitive and service-sensitive sector of the trucking business."</p><p>Albert said Circle has a new large logistics center in Laredo, Texas, which will serve as the gateway for direct service to 22 major cities in Mexico. Billings drivers will make daily runs from Atlanta to Laredo.</p><p>Billings has 16 service centers between Miami and Boston, with more than 200 drivers and 550 employees in total, Albert said.</p><p>"All the locations will benefit as we grow the business," he added.</p>